Zojirushi BB–PAC20 Home Bakery Virtuoso Bread Maker Review

Zojirushi has reinvented their favorite and highly reliable bread machine with special features to make amazingly delicious gluten-free bread.

We have reviewed the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 in detail in the following article. Use the table of content below to navigate to the relevant section.

About the company

Zojirushi Corporation is a Japanese multinational manufacturer and marketer. The company was started in 1916 as Ichikawa Brothers Trading Company in Osaka and later in 1948 the name was changed to Kyowa Manufacturing Co., Ltd. In 1961, its name has been changed again to Zojirushi Corporation.

Zojirushi Corporation has a branch in South Korea and subsidiary companies in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and the United States. Products manufactured by Zojirushi include bread machines, electric kettles, rice cookers, refrigerators, hot water dispensers, etc.

Key Aspects of Zojirushi BB-PAC20

Design

Zojirushi may not the one who wins points for the looks but it is definitely not that bad. It is not a huge machine but it is definitely hefty and you wouldn’t want to move it often.

If you are a horizontal bread lover then you might just fall in love with this one as the bread machine produces horizontal loaves. It perfectly fits on the countertop and is very heavy and sturdy. So you need not worry about this one to fall from your counter.

It has a decent sized viewing window that enables you to see the bread baking. The LCD display is very clear and easy to read. Unlike the vertical bread machines that have a single paddle, this one has dual paddles.

You need not worry about the bread sticking to the pan as it has a removable non-stick inner bread pan so the finished bread just glides out of the pan and it is a breeze to keep it clean although you have to wash it with hand.

Ease of Use

Don’t be terrified of its different options and settings, as it is very easy to operate.

Many customers have said that it very easy to operate, once you get the hang of it. In case if you face any problems they have provided the manual and an instructional DVD for your rescue.

Most of the customers said that they love the delay start function, the preheat cycle and the homemade setting with which you can even make a meatloaf in this machine. This bread machine is fairly easy to clean and due to its non-stick inner bread pan the bread does not stick to the pan.

Accessories

It comes with a measuring cup, measuring spoon, easy to follow instruction DVD and a user manual included with recipes that has a good number of recipes ranging from simple white bread to various artisan bread, cakes and jams.

Precautions

Since it is very sturdy, you need not worry about it moving and falling from the counter but you may not want it to be placed at the edge of the counter.

While cleaning the bread maker, be careful not to immerse it in water, just clean the inner pan and kneading paddle with mild soap/detergent solution. Use a dampened cloth to clean the cabinet.

Make sure that you follow all basic safety precautions while using any electrical kitchen appliance. Always supervise when it is being used by/near the children or incapacitated persons. Use oven mitts while handling hot objects or allow them to cool before you touch them.

Do not use any attachments or objects with this appliance unless prescribed by the manufacturer as it may lead to damage or the appliance and even accidents due to shock or fire.

Use the power cord accordingly and never let anything rest on it. A short power cord is provided to reduce the risk of detangling or tripping over in the case of a long cord.

However, there are extensions provided that must be used with care. If the power cord is damaged, do not operate the appliance instead take it for servicing at a recognized repair center.

Customer reviews for Zojirushi BB-PAC20

Zojirushi BB-PAC20 has a lot of fans owing to its great performance and its gluten-free setting. After a careful analysis, based on customer reviews on various websites, we have found what the customers love about this bread machine and also its limitations. They are as follows:

Key Positives of Zojirushi BB-PAC20

Horizontal Bread Pan: Most of the customers love this bread machine as it produces horizontal bread loaves which look just like the store bought ones and are perfect in size for sandwiches when compared to the slices from the vertical bread loaves.

Highly Programmable with customization: This bread maker offers the user a lot of options that allow them to bake a great variety of bread, cakes and jams as well. Most of the customers love the customization feature that offers freedom to the user to tweak the recipes according to their wish.

Dual Mixing paddles: Any pro baker when asked would tell you that for baking a great loaf of bread the kneading process is very crucial. Customers seem to love the fact that this bread machine has dual mixing paddles which ensure that the dough is perfectly mixed and well kneaded before it bakes.

Dedicated Gluten-free setting: This is what sets this bread machine part from the other Zojirushi bread machines. Customers seem to love this setting and few have added that they would never want to go back to the store bought gluten-free bread.

Low Noise: Most of the customers said that it is quiet in its operation. Apart from the usual sounds while the kneading process; it does not make much noise. Even the beep indicator is not loud it produces just enough sound to hear if you are in the other room but not annoyingly noisy.

Key Limitations

Offers only one loaf size: Few customers have said that they would have loved if this bread machine offered size choices and this is would be the only one thing they would like to change about this machine.

Non-stick coating wears off: Few customers have complained that the coating is not very durable and has been coming off just after few uses. It seems to be a one off issue/case.

Comparisons with others

When compared to its counterparts, is it cheaper than Breville BBM800XL and West Bend bread makers of the same kind and at the same time it is priced higher than Panasonic SD-YD250 with yeast dispenser, Zojirushi BB-HAC20, Zojirushi BB-CEC20, Breadman, Sunbeam and Oster bread makers.

9.2Total Score

Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Bread Maker

If you are a looking for a bread machine that has great features including a special gluten-free setting and can afford the price, which is slightly expensive but totally worth the money, then Zojirushi BB-PAC20 is what you should buy.

Q. Can we just bake in this using already kneaded and raised dough?
Yes, we can use the Bake only option and bake the already kneaded and raised dough.

Q. Can we make quick breads like banana bread?
Yes, we can bake quick breads. There is also a Banana-nut bread recipe included in the user manual with which you can start.

Q. Does this machine indicate the optimum time to add nuts or fruits?
Yes, it beeps for 30 seconds in the final kneading cycle that indicates the addition of fruits/nuts.

Q. Can we use this machine to make dough for dinner rolls or pasta?
Yes, you can by using the Dough mode and also you have a quick dough mode when you are in a hurry.

Q. Can you bake gluten-free bread?
Yes, you can bake gluten-free bread with its special gluten-free setting.

Q. What are the inner measurements of the bread pan?
The bread pan is about 8 inches long, 5 inches across and 4-1/2 inches deep.

Q. Is the product warranted?
Yes, it comes with a one year limited warranty from the date of purchase.

Q. Can we make smaller loaf sizes with this machine?
No, you can only bake loaves of 2lbs.

Q. Where is this machine made?
It is made in China.

Q. What is the difference between this BB-CEC20 and BB-PAC20?
BB-PAC20 has a clock, lid heater, automatic pause, and a separate gluten-free bread program while BB-CEC20 does not have these features.

Recommendation

This bread maker machine is currently the best in the market for baking perfect loaves of gluten-free bread.

The heater on the lid ensures that every loaf has a great crust and even baking of the loaf. It bakes a perfectly shaped loaf which anyone would instantly fall in love with.

It is very versatile and comes with 10 pre-programmed cycles and a special gluten-free setting with three crust alternatives, using this one can make wheat flour bread, meatloaf, cinnamon rolls, breadsticks, jam, cake and a whole lot of other recipes.

It has the delay timer feature, so you can wake to yummy bread every morning and also has a feature to keep the bread warm up to half an hour in case you oversleep. It has two kneading paddles for even mixing which in turn gives better quality, delicious bread.

Apart from its special features, it has a basic cycle and a dough cycle too.

Cleaning this bread maker after its use can be done in a jiffy as it has a non-stick pan which allows the bread to slide easily with leaving any trace behind. But, since it is Teflon coated it should be washed by hand. A measuring spoon, a measuring cup, an instructional DVD and a user manual with recipes included are an added bonus.

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